Language Change In WA State Lexicon

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — In Washington state, dairymen, freshmen and even penmanship could soon be things of the past. Over the past six years, state officials have engaged in the onerous task of changing language in the state's copious laws. That includes thousands of words and phrases, many written more than a century ago when women working on police forces or on fishing boats didn't happen. That process is slated to draw to a close this year. So while the state has already welcomed "firefighters" and "police officers" into its lexicon, "dairy farmers" and "first-year students" appear to be next.